Direction indicator for automobiles



Nov. 12, 1940. a L...$HELT.ON

DII iECTION INDICATOR FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jui 2, 193a M M Y b w J m 97 .A 1 7% a I W Mb. 2

Patented Nov. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES hazzisz PATENT orricanmnc'non'nvmcaron ron AUTOMOBILES Eklward lacy Shelton; Memphis, Tenn.Application July z, 1938, Serial No. 217,234

" 3 Claims. (01; 171-329) 'This invention relates to directionindicators visible from both the forward and the rearward end of thevehicle. I

With the above and other considerations in .to provide an improveddirection indicator or light signal device for automobiles or othervehicles, which device is extremely com-pact, is of sturdy and durableconstruction and is composed of parts which may be constructed andassembled at a very low cost. Another object of the invention is toprovide a light signal device so constructed and arranged as to bequickly and easily secured toa flat or crowned fender or other bodysurface of a vehicle. Further objects of the invention include theprovision of a signal device including a plurality of lamp housings soconstructed as to be conveniently accessible, individually orcollectively, for the repair or replacement of the lamp bulbs or lensesthereof, and in which each of the several lamp housings are so designedand arranged as to simultaneously display an indication in ,two oppositedirections, preferably forwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle.

pther objects, advantages and characteristic features of the inventionwill be apparent as the- Figure 2'is. a sectional rear end elevation ofthe signal device ofFigure 1;

- Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2 andviewed'in the :directionof' the arrows; and

Figures! and 5 are respectively perspective views of two diflerent formsof removable lamp housing-caps employed in the signal device illus-'trated in the preceding figures.

Referring to the drawing, the embodiment of the invention thereillustrated comprises generally a casing C of somewhat triangularsection andincluding three substantially cylindrical lamp housings H1,H2 and H3 extending therethrough from the front end wall 6 to the rearend wall I thereof. The walls of the casing C may be formed in variousways, and as shown, the bottom wall 8, sidewalls sand II and top wall l0K are formed of a single continuous strip of sheet metal or othermaterial joined at i2 by suitable 19 means such as soldering, welding orbrazing,

In accordance with one feature of the invention, the lamp housings areformed by providing spaced depressions in the top casing wall and 3covering these depressions with arched cap or 15- mind, it is thepurpose of the present invention 7 cover means which cooperate with thedepres-- sions to form tubular lam'p'housingsextending through thecasing from the front to the rear end thereof. As best shown in Figures2 and 3, the top casing wall [0 is provided with three transverselyspaced substantially semi-cylindrical depressions l3, l4 and I5connected by planet'op' wall portions. The depressions may be of anydesired shape and relative disposition. Asshown,

. eachdepression is of substantially semi-circular 25 section and thethree depressions are arranged radially or'fanwise across the top of thecasing. A bead forming anintegral groove 5 is provided along each edgeof each depression l3, II and I5 for the'pu'rpose of receiving andretaining the 9 edge of a lens, as hereinafter described. The

front and rear end walls 6 and I of the casing C are provided witharcuate upper edgerecesses correspondingto the top wall depressions l3,l4 and I5, and the end walls 6 and 1 are suitably fixed to the top,bottom and side walls'by solder- 7 ing, brazing or welding, as: shown inFigure 3.

Suitable substantiallysemi-cylindrical arched caps are provided for thelamp housings H1, H2

and H3. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the caps;'40

IQ for the outer lamp housings H1 and H3 are provided-with integralears. or extensions ll and I8,

so disposed as to lie flush with the plane portions of the casing topwall l 0 on the opposite sides of the depressions and ii. The ears H arepro- 45 vided with holes is for receiving fastening means,

- and the ears 18 are provided with semi-circular edge notches 20 forthesame purpose. Abead forming an integral-lens retaining groove 2| ispressed or otherwise formed along each edge of the arched or cylindricalportions of the caps Ii, as best shown in Figure 4. As shown inFi'gures3 a and 5, the cap .22 for the central lamp housing H: is similar inconstruction to the caps l6, being provided with fastening cars 23having p 65 cular edge notches 24. Lens retaining grooves 25 areprovided at the opposite ends of the arched portion of the cap 22.

An incandescent lamp bulb B is disposed in a suitable socket S in eachof the lamp housings H1,

H2 and H3. The lamp sockets are preferably of conventional constructionand as shown, may

each comprise a cylindrical member 28 carrying a center contact 21 on aninsulating disc 28 which is biased upwardly by a coil spring'23. The

lamp bulb B is removably secured in each socket S by the usual bayonetjoint 38. Lead wires 3|,

32 and 33 are respectively connected to the cen- .ter contacts 21 of thesockets S of the lamp hous- 16 ings H1,- H2 and H3, and these .wires areenergized through suitable switches from a battery or other source ofelectrical energy, the return of the circuit being made through a groundcomprising the metallic parts of the vehicle. The lamp sockets S arerespectively fixed in circular openings at the bottom of each of thethree depressions l3, l4 and I5 by suitable means such as a solderedjoint.

In accordance with the invention, the bottom wall 8 of the casing C isso formed as to permit the rigid connection of the device to a crownedfender or other curved body part of an automobile by the use of asuitable clamping or connecting means. This is accomplished, as shown,by forming the bottom wall 8 to provide an upwardly recessed orre-entrant portion 34 with downwardly depressed portions 35 and 36 oneither side thereof. A threaded nipple or equivalent connector 31 isinserted through an opening at the highest point of the re-entrantportion 34 and is secured to the bottom wall 8 by suitable means such asthe nut 38 welded orsoldered to the inner surface ofthe bottom wallabout the opening.

The casing C is preferably mounted with the 4,0 bottom wall 8 thereofbearing against and extending transversely with respect to the top,cor-- net or side of a crowned fender 39 so that the lamp housings maybe visible from both ends of the vehicle. The mounting is accomplishedas by boring a hole 48 through the fender, inserting the nipple 31therethrough and drawing the nipple through the hole by means of a nut4| and lock washer 42 engaging the under surface of the fender, With thearrangement described, 60 the casing C may be securely fastened tofenders or other body surfaces which are flat or of various curvatures.The location of the connecting nipple 31 in the re-entrant portion ofthe bottom wall 8 provides spaced wall areas comprising the .58downwardly depressed portions 35 and 38 which firmly engage spacedpoints on the supporting surface, even if such surface comprises the topor side of a highly crowned fender.

The lead wires 3|, 32 and 33 of the lamp bulbs 60 B are convenientlydisposed within the nipple 31 as shown. If desired, a gasket or pad 43of rubber or other suitable compressible material may be disposedbetween the bottom casing wall 8 and the supporting surface 38. In thedisclosed 5- embodiment, the pad 43 is fastened to the casing wall 8 byears 44 struck from this wall at the opposite ends of the pad 43.

Suitable lenses of colored or clear glass or lenses 4! at each endthereof; the center lamp 15 housing Ha may, comprise a clearance andpark ing signal light with a green lens 48 at its front end and a redlens 41 at itsrear end; and the lamp housing H3 may comprise a left turnsignal light with amber lenses 48 at each end thereof. The variouslenses are secured in the ends of the 5 respective lamp housings by edgeengagement with the grooves 5 in the housing depressions l3,

l4 and I5, and the grooves 2i and 25 inthe caps l8 and 22.

With the lens color arrangement described, the 10 lead wire 3| for thebulb. B of the stop signal lamp housing H1 may be energized through abrake operated switch, and the lead 33 for the bulb of the turningsignal lamp housing Ha may be energized through a switch disposed foropera- 15 tion by the hand or foot of the driver. The clearance signallight may be used to indicate that'the car is in operation or may serveas a parking light and the lead wire 32 for the bulb of the central lamphousing Hz may accordingly 20 be energized through a dash switch.Circuit in- -terrupt ers of known construction" may be conof the outercaps l8 and the ears 23 of the center cap 22. Nuts 50 may be secured tothe inner surface of the. top casing wall l8 air the plane portionsthereof for the reception of the screws 5 Although the signal device ofthe invention has been described in connection with a single'embodimentthereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited tothis illustrative construction but includes such modifications thereofas fall within the scope of the appended claims.

' I claim:

1. A vehicle signal device comprising a casing having bottom and sidewalls and front and rear end walls, said end walls having alignedsubstantially semi-circular recesses in the upper edges thereof, a topwall for said casing having substantially semi-cylindrical depressionstherein connecting-the aligned semi-circular recesses of said end .walledges, substantially semi-cylindrical cap means secured over each ofsaid top wall depressions and forming therewith cylindrical lamphousings extending from end to end of said casing, a lamp bulb withineach of said cylindrical housings, means for supporting each of saidlamp bulbs including a lamp socket secured to and projecting inwardlyfrom said depression in said casing top wall and extending into theinterior of said casing, lens means dis- 6o posed between saidsubstantially semi-cylindrical depressions and said cap means at eachend of each of said lamp housings and means for holding said lens meansin place.

2.. A vehicle signal device-comprising acasing having integral bottomand side walls and front and rear end walls secured thereto, said endwalls v having aligned substantially semi-circular recesses in theirupper edges at points spaced transversely of the casing, a top wallfixed to said 7 side and end walls and having a plurality of spacedsubstantially semi-cylindrical depressions therein connecting saidaligned top edge recesses of said front and rear end walls, saiddepressions having transversely disposed grooves therein adiacent theopposite ends thereof, a lamp bulb within each of said depressions,means for supporting each of said lamp bulbs including a-lamp socketsecured to and projecting inwardly from said depression in said-casingtop wall and extending into'the interior of said casing, 19.substantially semi-cylindrical cap secured to said top wall over each ofsaid depressions and forming therewith a cylindrical lamp housingextending from end to end of said casing, each of said caps having atransverse bead forming a groove adjacent its front and rear edges, andlensmeans retained in the opposite ends of each 01 said lamp housings byengagement with said top wall depression and cap bead grooves.

3. A vehiclesignal device comprising a casing removably securing saidears to said top wall.

lamp means in each of said lamphousings ineluding a lamp socket securedto and projecting inwardly from said casing top wall depression and intothe interior 01' said casing, and lens means at the ends of said tubularlamp housings. 15

EDWiKRD LACY summon. I

